Luke 18:19

“And Jesus said unto him, etc.] In answer to his question, beginning with the character he gave him: why callest thou me good? it being unusual to address men, even their Rabbins, under such a title: none is good, save one, [that is], God: or “but God alone”; as the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions render it; or, “but the one God”, as read the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions; (see Gill on “<401917>Matthew 19:17”).”

“THE RICH YOUNG RULER AND DISCOURSE THEREON. (Luk 18:18-30) Why, &c.--Did our Lord mean then to teach that God only ought to be called "good?" Impossible, for that had been to contradict all Scripture teaching, and His own, too (Psa 112:5; Mat 25:21; Tit 1:8). Unless therefore we are to ascribe captiousness to our Lord, He could have had but one object--to raise the youth's ideas of Himself, as not to be classed merely with other "good masters," and declining to receive this title apart from the "One" who is essentially and only "good." This indeed is but distantly hinted; but unless this is seen in the background of our Lord's words, nothing worthy of Him can be made out of them. (Hence,…”

“See the notes at Matthew 19:13-30. return to 'Top of Page'”

“18:19 Why do you call me good? The man was calling Jesus “good” as a general compliment, but only God is truly good. Jesus was challenging the man’s understanding of goodness—true goodness requires moral perfection.”

“Luk 1:35, Luk 11:13; Job 14:4, Job 15:14-16, Job 25:4; Ti1 3:16; Heb 7:26; Jam 1:17 Luke 18:20”